After the defeat in dice game with Kauravas the Pandavas were hiding in the forests of
Bulandshahr then named DWAITHVAN. There is a confusion with the forest name as some believe that it was KATASRAJ (in Pakistan). The pond (in Bhuteshwar temple) of Bulandshar (has a very interesting story related to it). It is said a Brahmin came to Pandavas and requested to find a deer which had vanished taking away his sacrificial tools.
Pandavas tried to find the deer which eluded them and they failed to track it. They were exhausted and thirsty and taking a rest under a tree, when the younger brother Nakula discovered a pond in the vicinity. Yudhishtira sent Nakula to fetch some water. Nakula went to the pond,and was about to drink water, Suddenly, he heard a voice addressing him "0 Sir, this is my pond. You shall not drink water without my permission. You may drink after answering my questions." Nakula looked all around and saw no one. He was very thirsty. so without heeding the warning, he drank water He at once fell down unconscious. Yudhishtira sent his other brothers one after another, to look for those who had not come back.
Atlast Yudhishtra himself hurried to the spot and found all his brothers dead. He was flabber gasted, but because he was very thirsty so he also moved for drinking water. He heard a voice,Yudhishtira, addressed the voice: "Sir, who are you? you seem to be the cause of the death of my brothers. Humbly I ask you, who are you?"asked the Yudhistra. The voice replied, "Yes, I killed your brothers. I am Yaksha, the owner of this pond. They drank water before answering my questions, and so they died. If you want to drink water, answer my questions first." With these words the Yaksha himself -appeared before him. "I shall answer your questions as best I can," agreed Yudhishtira.
Some of the questions and answers are as below:
Q- What is more heavier than the earth? loftier than the sky? swifter than the wind?
A- Mother is weightier than the earth; Father is loftier than sky; The mind is swifter than wind.
Q- Given up trait, makes one popular A- Self-pride (ego) when given up, makes one popular.
Q- What saves grief, when given up?
A- Anger when given up saves grief.
Q- When given up, what trait makes a man rich ?
A- Desire when given up, makes a man rich.
Q- What trait when given up makes a person happy ?
A- Greed when given up, makes a person happy.
Q- What is the news? What is strangeness? What is the way?
A- Time factor is boiling the creatures in a cauldron called ignorance. The Sun serves as fire, day and night as fire-sticks, and the months and the seasons as stirring spoons - This is the news.
Men are dying everyday. Yet the rest think that they will never die! What more could be stranger than this ?
The knowledge is vast. Many are the traditions. There is not a single scholar, who does not disagree with the other. The essence of truth is shrouded in mystery. So the path shown by a great man is the way to be followed.
Q- What can compare with the brightness of the sun?
A- Only Truth equals the Sun in brightness.
Q- How can one earn wealth? Of all the riches which is the best? What is true Wealth?
A- Money is to be earned by hard work. Learning is the best of riches. Health is Wealth.
Q- What is faster than the wind? What troubles a person always?
A- The mind is faster than the wind. Worry troubles a person always.
Q- Who is a great man ?
A- One who practices non-violence.
Yaksha got impressed with the intelligent answers Yudhishtra gave and he gave his brothers life back.
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